Let's take a look at Tommy John recovery, on the day WSH hands the ball to Detwiler

[Mogriffjr]

I kinda agree with WTB. I mean the kid is throwing side sessions every 2nd day after his start likely, as well as warming up throwing pitches in the pen to make sure he's warm and ready. I really didn't see the harm in an extra 20-30 innings but hey I guess that's why i'm sitting here typing this.

The real fault was starting him so damn early in the season. They could have put him on a program that would have led to him pitching his 160 IP more towards the end of the season as opposed to early September, much like how the Braves did Medlen.

[Senser81]

There is little evidence. Dr Andrews said as much. He also agreed with the decision for an innings limit.

Dr. Yocum said that he agrees with the decision.

Dr. Yocum & Dr. Andrews opinions > W2B

But its kind of stupid to listen to the doctor's opinions on something like this. If a football player gets injured, any independent doctor can say "you shouldn't play football ever again...you might get injured". But thats not really a reasonable response. Pitching is an unnatural motion for the shoulder/arm, and there is always potential for injury. So a doctor can always say "If you keep pitching, you might hurt yourself again". Great, thanks fo the update!

I don't understand how anyone can defend the Nationals' handling of Strasburg. Its almost childish in a way, and not very creative or pragmatic. How about this...just rest him for the entire 2013 season next year, because he might get hurt.

[NAHSTE]

Detwiler pitched very well, to his credit.

[Woy]

Detwiler pitched very well, to his credit.

Holland'd

[Slateman]

But its kind of stupid to listen to the doctor's opinions on something like this. If a football player gets injured, any independent doctor can say "you shouldn't play football ever again...you might get injured". But thats not really a reasonable response. Pitching is an unnatural motion for the shoulder/arm, and there is always potential for injury. So a doctor can always say "If you keep pitching, you might hurt yourself again". Great, thanks fo the update!

I don't understand how anyone can defend the Nationals' handling of Strasburg. Its almost childish in a way, and not very creative or pragmatic. How about this...just rest him for the entire 2013 season next year, because he might get hurt.

So, just so I'm clear, you think it's stupid to listen to the two foremost experts at this type of surgery, including the one that actually did the surgery?

[Senser81]

So, just so I'm clear, you think it's stupid to listen to the two foremost experts at this type of surgery, including the one that actually did the surgery?

Yes, and I would especially ignore the guy who actually did the surgery, because he has the most biased opinion out there. If I'm a doctor who performs surgery on a pitcher, the last thing I want him to do is throw 200+ innings, because even if he gets hurt for reasons unrelated to the surgery, I'm still going to look bad. Doctors are always going to err on the side of caution. And pitchers are always going to get hurt. Its counter-productive.

[Guest]

Interesting article that I read in the Washington Post yesterday, and it seems that Boras pushed this, as both Strasburg and Edwin Jackson are his clients, where the writer cites what was said to another writer from Boras

This series wasn’t lost when Drew Storen let it slip away after getting within one strike of ending it. It was lost when Nationals owner Ted Lerner bought into agent Scott Boras’s line that the Nationals had to sign Jackson to help eat up some of the innings Strasburg wasn’t going to pitch.

Boras told The Post’s Mike Wise he told Lerner, “You better sign Edwin Jackson because we have this plan for Stephen Strasburg . . .”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports...bee_story.html

[FedEx227]

I kinda agree with WTB. I mean the kid is throwing side sessions every 2nd day after his start likely, as well as warming up throwing pitches in the pen to make sure he's warm and ready. I really didn't see the harm in an extra 20-30 innings but hey I guess that's why i'm sitting here typing this.

The real fault was starting him so damn early in the season. They could have put him on a program that would have led to him pitching his 160 IP more towards the end of the season as opposed to early September, much like how the Braves did Medlen.

This is the biggest issue, the Nats handled it stupidy. I think the concept behind innings limits post-TJ is sound, it's led to a much increased level of sustained success post surgery (this is looking beyond handpicked examples, lower minors-majors, there's numerous articles about the successes after limiting innings in the first year or two back). The problem is the Nationals did it in the most incredibly dumb way possible.